Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : The Environmentalist Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: American Spirit who wrote (6633)	6/6/2006 9:47:32 AM
From: longnshort	Respond to of 36921

Yeah, and these guys are exempt from Kyoto, yeah Kyoto is not a anti-capitalism thing, right. BEIJING (AP) -- China's pollution problems cost the country more than $200 billion a year, a top official said Monday as he called for better legal protection for grassroots groups so they can help clean up the environment. ADVERTISEMENT Damage to China's environment is costing the government roughly 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product, estimated Zhu Guangyao, deputy chief of the State Environmental Protection Agency. China's GDP for 2005 was $2.26 trillion. Despite the efforts of half a million environmental officials in his agency and other organizations, China's environmental picture is worsening and "allows for no optimism," he said as he released a report that described China's environmental situation as "grave." "Water, land and soil pollution is serious," the report said. "The Chinese government will mobilize all forces available to solve the pollution problems that are causing serious harm to people's health." Zhu noted that some local officials are reluctant to help -- and sometimes even work against -- the central government's environmental protection efforts. After more than 25 years of breakneck growth, China is in the midst of an environmental crisis that has continued to worsen as local authorities fail to enforce regulations meant to counter severe air and water pollution. Zhu said that his agency is hopeful that nongovernment environmental groups could play "important roles in promoting or pushing governments to solve the environmental problems." He said the importance of NGOs in China lags behind other countries, and that the environmental watchdog wants to play a more important role in developing "legislation to secure their interests and existence in China." Environmental groups said such legal protection would be a tremendous help, but cautioned that the environmental agency doesn't have the power to create or pass such a law without the support of top leaders, which was far from guaranteed. Currently, activists and others who try to blow the whistle on polluting industries are often ignored or suppressed by corrupt local officials who risk losing income if they try to shut down factories. Some officials also fear being disciplined by the central government if their districts are found in violation of environmental standards.